In this week’s edition of the CEBL Free Agency update, the news we were looking for came later that expected. We had four more players, including three Canadians deciding to return to the league. It’s looking like one team is the strong favourite as we’re just over the halfway mark of the off season period. Let’s get into the signings for the week of the 21st.

Emmanuel Bandoumel

Bandoumel returns for his second year in the CEBL, having last played in 2024 for the Saskatchewan Rattlers (now Saskatoon Mamba). He had a solid season, averaging 11 points, four rebounds and two and a half assists. Now joining the Edmonton Stingers, Bandoumel is a solid shooter who can also play good defence. With how things have shaken out for Edmonton, I am very curious how they respond to losing a good chunk of their best players from last season. This is a start.

T.J. Lall

Returning for his sixth overall season in the CEBL, it was a one year hiatus for Lall who will be back with the River Lions. The six foot six forward is a do it all wing that does a little bit of everything. He shoots the ball from distance at an average rate, he rebounds it well, and is a solid defender. He last averaged in the league nine and a half points, four and a half rebounds, with two assists. It truly seems like Niagara is simply trying their best to return much of their championship rosters to run it back once more.

Christian Rohlehr

Rohlehr is back for his fourth year in a row, second with the BlackJacks. He is a typical old school big that plays around the rim at both ends, bringing solid contributions. In 10 minutes a game last year he averaged, five and a half points, three and a half rebounds on 66% from the field. Ottawa has been very diligent in bringing back their effective role players from a season ago, which we will see is a successful strategy for team building.

Sean East II

My first reaction when I found out this news was: Wow. So far this off season the Brampton Honey Badgers are the clear winners. They’ve taken away the MVP runner-up from Edmonton, along with another one of the Stingers top three players. That also doesn’t include taking away one of Calgary’s best players. An unreal roster they’ve constructed so far. East is having a spectacular winter season in the G-League averaging 20 points, five assists, and a steal per game. This is after 23 points, four rebounds, and five assists last summer and that second place MVP voting. Really curious to see who else Brampton puts around he and Jameer Nelson Jr.